Pig Health - Navel Bleeding

Loss of blood through the navel of the new-born pig can result
in severe anaemia, failure to grow and, in the extreme, early
death. The condition is usually sporadic, although it can
occur in outbreaks and there may be a variety of causes. In
the most severe outbreaks, 50% mortality can occur.

Fig 2: Fully slatted floors make it difficult to see bleeding
from navels and may cause damage to a long umbilical cord resulting
in haemorrhage.

Fig 3: A long trailing umbilical cord can be clamped or tied
off; do not break it close to the belly

Clinical Signs

Following birth of the pig, a proportion of the blood volume
will be left in the umbilical cord. The cord should constrict
and "push" this blood into the body and the remaining blood
immediately clots to prevent leakage. If this constriction
does not occur fully - such as with the "black pudding" navel,
if vasodilation recurs or if the blood fails to clot, loss of
blood will occur.

On solid floor systems, blood will be evident in the pen and
often over the bodies of other piglets and on the sows udder 2-4
hours after birth. However, where a pen is fully or partially
slatted, the blood may be less obvious, having dripped through the
slats and all that will be seen is obvious pallor of the
piglet. It is not uncommon for stockmen to believe that the
piglets are actually born pale. This is rarely the case but can
occur where farrowing is slow and stillbirth rates tend to be
raised.

Causes

A range of possible causes have been recognised as the trigger
factors for navel bleeding.

1 Failure to clot. This is likely to
result from either prematurity or a failure of the normal clotting
mechanism due to outside chemical insult eg. Ssows that have
had access to rat bait (Warfarin) or Aspirin. Aspirin (Acetyl
Salicylic Acid) has been used historically to prevent premature
farrowing (eg in the face of a PRRS outbreak) by oral application
to the sow in the seven days prior to farrowing. Navel
bleeding was not commonly seen and where it did occur it is
difficult to know whether it was due to the medication or the viral
challenge of PRRS to the piglets. The most common cause of navel
bleeding in pigs in the UK is likely to be the result of resins
present within certain hardwoods that are periodically and
erratically included in wood based bedding materials (shavings or
sawdust - the latter being more of a problem). It is unknown
whether these resins act locally on the navel (most likely) or more
systemically throughout the body. There does not appear to be
any association with the age of sow farrowing and the appearance of
navel bleeding, and the condition is very rarely seen in outdoor
farrowing systems although its detection in the outdoor
environment may be difficult.

There are specific inherited clotting defects akin to
haemophilia in humans but these tend to occur in pure breeds and
are rare in commercial pig production (e.g. Von Willebrand's
Syndrome in the Poland China breed).

Some producers believe there is a link with Prostaglandin
induction of farrowing and navel bleeding in piglets although it is
unclear if this is a direct chemical effect or the result of
inducing premature farrowing. Data sheets from prostaglandins warn
against using the product to advance farrowing more than two days
earlier than the herd average, for fear of increasing non-viable
pig production but do not specifically mention navel bleeding in
warnings.

2 Damage to the cord. Over enthusiastic
breaking of the cord close to the pigs' belly at birth can damage
the blood vessels and allow leakage of blood. When a cord is
left to trail, it can be damaged by getting caught in slats or
trodden on by the sow.

In general, physical damage to the cord is more likely to
produce individual pale pigs rather than affect whole litters.

Consequences

Navel bleeding can cause death, rising mortality levels by 1-2%
in longstanding problem herds or dramatic mortality in
outbreaks. Occasionally a whole litter will perish before it
is realised what has occurred. Partial anaemia can limit
weaning weight by 2kg individually and expose the pig to a range of
secondary diseases.

Control and Prevention

If navel bleeding is widespread on a litter basis:-

a) Replace wood shavings/sawdust with chopped straw
or paper. It is extremely rare to see outbreaks of navel
bleeding or even long term grumbling problems on non-wood based
bedding or on fully slatted systems where bedding is not
used. (Shredded paper is often used in such environments
prior to and during farrowing to provide the sow with nesting
material).

d) Inject sows with Vitamin K up to 24 hours prior
to farrowing. (This is the usual treatment for Warfarin
poisoning), (This is an unlicensed human medicine rendering a
treated animal unfit for human consumption for life).

e) Feed Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid) to sows in tablet
form for 7 days prior to farrowing (Vitamin C is not stable in feed
and can only practically be given in this way or more erratically
via the water system). Dose rate is up to 5g per sow per day.
Such use would be off-licence requiring a 28day withdrawal
period to be applied

f) Clamp navels at birth using proprietary
human navel clamps, which can be re-used if cleaned and
sterilised. They need to stay in place for 24 hours.
Cut off trailing cord. This may create something of a
dilemma; to be able to clamp cards, supervision of farrowing or
early attendance is essential which can be best achieved by
inducing farrowing with prostaglandin which may themselves risk
premature farrowing and more navel bleeding.

g) Alternatively, if a long cord is left, tie a
simple overhand knot in it close to the belly and cut off trailing
cord.

h) Do not tear off cords close to the belly as the
pig is born - it is better to allow the natural process to occur,
or break the cord at least 15cm away from the piglet's belly.

i) Iron injections. There is always a tendency
to give pale pigs extra iron injection although great care is
needed, as this may be toxic. A normal dose should be given
within 72 hours of birth and no more than a normal dose should be
given again 7-10 days later. Provision of electrolytes will
be beneficial to help restore fluid volume in the first 24 hours of
life.

Costs

In a severe outbreak on a three hundred sow breeder feeder farm
lasting for two weeks total losses due to bleeding were one hundred
and sixty piglets- over 50% mortality equating to a cost of £5600
(at £35/piglet covering all costs).

A 2% rise in mortality over a year in a similar herd due to low
grade uncontrolled navel bleeding would equate to a similar level
of loss and cost. If the problem occurs in association with
induced farrowing then a careful cost/benefit analysis will be
required to decide whether induction should continue.

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